27 Jul 2016

In March, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insisted that Reds youngster Allan Rodrigues De Souza 'will be a fixed part of the squad in the future, but it appears that the plan to integrate the talented Brazilian into the squad will have to wait for another year.

"Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Allan Rodrigues de Souza has joined Hertha Berlin on loan".

Hertha Berlin also officially confirmed the transfer via a post on the club's Twitter account.

Allan is still unable to secure a UK work permit, but even if he'd got one, the reduced number of games next season means he'd probably spend most of the year on the bench and/or playing for the U21s. This way, he'll be able to continue playing competitive first-team football, which can only be good for his development.

Klopp certainly seems to be a fan of the youngster. Reacting to Allan's recent call-up to Brazil U20 training camp in Rio, Klopp enthused:

"He [Allan] is an outstanding talent [and] will be a fixed part of the squad in the future, for sure. He's a good player with a good attitude, everybody loves him.”

Long-term, the odds on Allan becoming a first-team regular are incredibly slim. Historically, no foreign-born attacker has ever come through the academy to become a first-team regular, and when you consider the struggles faced by the likes of Suso, Pacheco, Teixeira (and dozens of others), it's clear that Allan has a huge job on his hands.

Having the confidence of the manager is half the battle, so perhaps Allan may buck the trend...?

* Oct 2015: Described by SJK boss Simo Valakari as an 'unbelievable talent'.